About - ROC_Museum

The Royal Observer Corps Museum Trust (ROCM) manages a small independent volunteer-run, entirely self-funding Museum that is Accredited by Arts Council England and it is run by the Charitable Trust, guided by a professional Museum Mentor.

The Museum was established in 1974 within the Headquarters of 14 Group Royal Observer Corps in Abbotts Road, Winchester, as a collection of historic items for viewing by visitors to the HQ. It was subsequently developed into a Museum open to the public (albeit by appointment) with support and grants from Hampshire County Museum Service.

The Stand-down of the ROC in 1992 led to the closure of the HQ building and the loss of this location. The ROCM currently has a permanent major display at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection. The ROCM meets its obligations in making its Collection and services available to the public through its Exhibitions Programme, mounting exhibitions of varying length in museums, galleries, heritage centres, libraries etc. and special events.

The formation of the Royal Observer Corps (formerly Observer Corps) started in the South of England in 1925 and had spread Group by Group throughout mainland Britain by WWII and was to serve the Nation until 1996.

Its task was to track and report all aircraft flying over the UK and coastal shipping movements so that the Home Defences could be warned of and act upon any threat of attack. There was an ROC Observation Post every 5 miles manned by volunteers (Observers) from the immediate neighbourhood. These Observers were recruited by the Police as Special Constables prior to WWII and by the Air Ministry thereafter. These volunteers came from every walk of life and occupation and their ages ranged from 15 and on into their 70’s with each wartime Post having 20 – 30 members. Many veterans from WWI joined including a number of former senior Officers!

In WWII, by and large, Observers were too young; too old; or unfit for service in the Armed Forces, or were in Reserved Occupations. Each Post reported to an ROC Operations Centre which would have several Crews of Observers, from the surrounding area, totalling around 200 members. Centre Observers tended to be younger than Post Observers and there were many Woman Observers (from July 1941) mainly in Centres with a few on Posts. ROC Observers served only in Britain except for 796 Observers who sailed with the D-Day Invasion Fleet on Armed Merchant ships to ensure they did not fire at Allied aircraft. Post War, the Post and Centre (later Control) Observers came from further afield, with many veterans of WWII and National Servicemen (Reservists) joining their ranks. The ROC from the late 1950’s changed its aircraft observation role for one of reporting any nuclear attack and any subsequent radioactive fallout.

A serious concern of the Royal Air Force in the run up to the D-Day Operation was the risk of ‘friendly fire’ on its aircraft by shipping as had happened at the Dieppe and Anzio landings. It was therefore agreed that Observers from the ROC should be posted to the Defensively Armed Merchant Ships (DEMS) to direct the gun crews and ensure no Allied aircraft was fired upon. As a result a request by Air Chief Marshall Leigh Mallory went out to all members of the ROC on 11 March 1944 asking for volunteers for duties as yet unspecified.

Commencing enrolment on 10/5/1944 the 1000+ Seaborne volunteers were subject to strict medical examinations and a stringent aircraft recognition test (said to be the most difficult such test in the world at that time). Finally 796 Seaborne Observers passed the selection and were kitted, trained and prepared at RAF Bournemouth, Depot of the Seaborne Operation, with the final batch of enrolments on 23/6/1944. Observers would then be despatched to DEMS Offices in ports around the UK and from there posted to a ship. At the end of each sea engagement the Observer would usually be posted back to RAF Bournemouth for discharge or further on-board postings.

The Seaborne Observers were enrolled into the Royal Navy as Petty Officer (Air Identifiers) and engaged for periods of 1 to 3 months sea duty. Ships manned by Seaborne Observers so far identified comprise, Infantry Assault Ships; Mechanised Transport, Stores and Commodity Ships; Coasters and Short Sea Cargo ships; and a variety of HQ ships, Flag ships, Depot Ships, train ferries and Accommodation ships (some attached to ‘Mulberry’ A & B and ‘Gooseberry’ 1, 4 & 5 at least.). The latter were of course part of the fixed purpose-built on-shore harbour installations and it is a great surprise that the Seaborne Observers were controlling gunfire from these harbour installations. Ships of at least 13 Nations were manned by Seaborne Observers and many were ‘Liberty’ type ships.

An analysis of the results of the Seaborne Observers service confirmed that not a single Allied aircraft was fired upon by guns from a vessel manned by ROC Observers. Letters of appreciation were received from many ships’ captains more than one of whom wished he could continue to have Seaborne Observers on his vessel permanently.

Thanks to the generosity and far-sightedness of the Director of Naval Personnel, the ROC Museum has been provided with the details of all 796 Seaborne Observers. The ROCM is therefore able to undertake enquiries relating to Seaborne Observers on the same basis as ordinary personnel enquiries.

Incidentally the ages of the Seaborne Observers varied widely with the oldest giving his date of birth as 1878, making him 66! Approximate statistics are: 232 Observers were born before 1901, 370 between 1901 & 1910, 60 between 1911 and 1920, 100 between 1921 and 1925 while 32 were born in 1926 (so at 1/6/1944 there were 9 x 17 year olds and 23 x 18 year olds).

The Royal Observer Corps Museum Trust

About the Royal Observer Corps Museum Trust

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About the Royal Observer Corps

D-Day Operation